launch facilities situated farther south. Some of the better-preserved structures of the old city had been restored as museums or historical exhibits. The bridge crossing the bay to the east was built on the piers of an old-world bridge that had stood in the same place; sections of it had endured sufficiently to be incorporated into the newer construction. The channel connecting the bay to the ocean in the west had been spanned by an even more spectacular bridge, but it had collapsed or been destroyed, and the Sofians had replaced it with a tunnel.
Dreese was on the intelligence staff, and also involved in Torus. The officer that he reported to, referred to as Actor and never named directly, would be directing the planned coup. Lubanov’s position with Internal Security involved regular contact with the Aurora project administration, making him ideally placed to monitor their progress and keep the Torus group informed. His meeting with Dreese was in connection with a report that Lubanov had supplied several days previously on the latest developments.
“So would you say that the program is about on schedule?” Dreese asked after they had gone over some of the details. “We’re still looking at lifting out from orbit six weeks from now?” He was squat and solidly built, with a swarthy complexion and full black beard. While he claimed Sofian birth and a military pedigree, Lubanov’s sources indicated him to be from a mining background in the desert region on the far side of the eastern mountains, having originated somewhere in the interior. Not that it mattered very much. But Lubanov had worked in intelligence and security for many years in his distant native region before coming to Sofi, and liking to know the real story behind things had become part of his nature.
“It might be delayed,” Lubanov replied. “They’re still rounding up last-minute recruits from remote locations. That’s taking longer than expected.”
“The guy that makes robots, who wants to bring his whole family?”
“Among others.”
“I can’t see that affecting things substantially,” Dreese said. “If it became urgent, they could be flown here in a matter of days.”
“Probably so,” Lubanov agreed. “But in addition to that, the latest test data is necessitating some adjustments to the drive sequencing. Getting that right could take them longer.”
This was in reference to bringing the Aurora up to final flight readiness. In its earlier stages of construction, as key structural components and system functions were completed, the ship had made several test runs to distances ranging from translunar to halfway to the orbit of Mars. But trials of limited range and duration could reveal only so much. The only way to fully learn the performance envelope of a starship and know the conditions it might encounter would be in the final, one-way mission. As a next-best thing, over the years leading up to final launch, a series of scaled-down test platforms had been dispatched to investigate various design concepts, and the information they returned had helped guide the engineering of the Aurora ’s final form. Lubanov was talking about changes being made as a result of the latest data to come in.
“Are we talking about anything major?” Dreese asked.
“Not from what I gather.”
“So, perhaps a modest extension of the launch date. Not any significant change.”
“That would be the safest way to bet.”
“Could it happen sooner than six weeks?”
Lubanov shook his head. “From the stockpiles of materials and equipment that are still to be sent up from the ground bases, I can’t see it.”
Dreese nodded as if that was what he had been wanting to hear. He regarded Lubanov silently for several seconds, then shifted his eyes unconsciously to emphasize confidentiality. “That is what we have concluded also. I am to inform you that there will be a meeting with Actor for a detailed briefing two days from now. You will be informed
Dreese was on the intelligence staff, and also involved in Torus. The officer that he reported to, referred to as Actor and never named directly, would be directing the planned coup. Lubanov’s position with Internal Security involved regular contact with the Aurora project administration, making him ideally placed to monitor their progress and keep the Torus group informed. His meeting with Dreese was in connection with a report that Lubanov had supplied several days previously on the latest developments.
“So would you say that the program is about on schedule?” Dreese asked after they had gone over some of the details. “We’re still looking at lifting out from orbit six weeks from now?” He was squat and solidly built, with a swarthy complexion and full black beard. While he claimed Sofian birth and a military pedigree, Lubanov’s sources indicated him to be from a mining background in the desert region on the far side of the eastern mountains, having originated somewhere in the interior. Not that it mattered very much. But Lubanov had worked in intelligence and security for many years in his distant native region before coming to Sofi, and liking to know the real story behind things had become part of his nature.
“It might be delayed,” Lubanov replied. “They’re still rounding up last-minute recruits from remote locations. That’s taking longer than expected.”
“The guy that makes robots, who wants to bring his whole family?”
“Among others.”
“I can’t see that affecting things substantially,” Dreese said. “If it became urgent, they could be flown here in a matter of days.”
“Probably so,” Lubanov agreed. “But in addition to that, the latest test data is necessitating some adjustments to the drive sequencing. Getting that right could take them longer.”
This was in reference to bringing the Aurora up to final flight readiness. In its earlier stages of construction, as key structural components and system functions were completed, the ship had made several test runs to distances ranging from translunar to halfway to the orbit of Mars. But trials of limited range and duration could reveal only so much. The only way to fully learn the performance envelope of a starship and know the conditions it might encounter would be in the final, one-way mission. As a next-best thing, over the years leading up to final launch, a series of scaled-down test platforms had been dispatched to investigate various design concepts, and the information they returned had helped guide the engineering of the Aurora ’s final form. Lubanov was talking about changes being made as a result of the latest data to come in.
“Are we talking about anything major?” Dreese asked.
“Not from what I gather.”
“So, perhaps a modest extension of the launch date. Not any significant change.”
“That would be the safest way to bet.”
“Could it happen sooner than six weeks?”
Lubanov shook his head. “From the stockpiles of materials and equipment that are still to be sent up from the ground bases, I can’t see it.”
Dreese nodded as if that was what he had been wanting to hear. He regarded Lubanov silently for several seconds, then shifted his eyes unconsciously to emphasize confidentiality. “That is what we have concluded also. I am to inform you that there will be a meeting with Actor for a detailed briefing two days from now. You will be informed
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